Sometimes, the heartbreak of coming within one strike (twice) of winning the World Series overshadows the incredible run the Texas Rangers have put together the past two seasons.
The Rangers - a team that before 2010 had never won a postseason series - enter Spring Training as the two-time defending American League champions. They return every key player, minus starting pitcher C.J. Wilson, to a team that went 96-66 last season, the best regular season in franchise history. In 2010, Texas went 90-72 before making a World Series run.
There is a lot of optimism that surrounds this franchise; it's a heck of a time to be a Rangers fan. As the Rangers enter 2012, they are expected to make the playoffs again with essentially the same team in tact.
With that in mind, here are the top 5 Rangers storylines I'm most looking forward to heading into the season:
5. Depth seems to be everywhere.
Let's not pretend like all of our best players are going to be healthier than a fire-grilled salmon with a side of broccoli this season. Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz all have been injury-prone in years past. But the depth seems to be superb all around, whether it's David Murphy being a fourth outfielder; the flexibility of Michael Young (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, DH) Mike Napoli (C, 1B) and Alexi Ogando (SP, RP) allows for manager Ron Washington to get creative with different lineups; Ogando and Scott Feldman aren't even going to make the starting rotation out of camp if everyone is healthy.
It just feels good to not have to rely on one specific superstar's health to carry us to another division title.
4. The batting lineup is potent.
If this isn't the best in the league, I'm not sure what is:
1. Ian Kinsler
2. Elvis Andrus
3. Josh Hamilton
4. Adrian Beltre
5. Michael Young
6. Nelson Cruz
7. Mike Napoli
8. Mitch Moreland
9. Craig Gentry
Tee time.
3. Neftali Feliz's transition to the starting rotation.
For two years, the 24-year-old Feliz has been a reliable closer with an unrelenting fastball that routinely touches 97+ mph. He took a step back last year with a 54/30 K/BB ratio, after baffling hitters to the tune of 71/18 in 2010. His ERA has remained consistent (2.74 in 2011, 2.73 in 2010). Feliz soared through our minor league system as a starter, though, and it's time to see if he can take his effortless delivery from one inning per appearance to six or seven.
Since he's been a closer his first two full seasons, it makes me believe his arm is ready for the workload. I wonder if Washington has a season innings limit on Feliz since he's never pitched more than 69 innings in a season. Feliz is a power pitcher who can undoubtedly reach 200 strikeouts in a season. The question will be whether he can reach 200 innings and keep the walk total at a respectable level.
2. Yu Darvish's transition to America.
Forgive us Rangers fans for being a little Yu-crazed, but this guy has the appearance of the real deal. Forget the Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideo Nomo comparisons. Neither of those guys came close to 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds. Darvish (shown in video above striking out Cleveland's Shin Soo-Choo in a March 13 spring training game) appears to have the makeup and control to excel at the major league level. Plus, the Rangers scouted him for years before bringing him over to Arlington this offseason.
Darvish will be slated third in the rotation behind Colby Lewis and Derek Holland, and in front of Matt Harrison and Feliz. To make up for the loss of Wilson, who went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA, we have no choice but to hope Darvish leaps to the top of the rotation by midseason. Lewis is reliable, but he's not an ace. Holland is a budding star and a legitimate No. 2 right now, but he's perhaps a year or two removed from having ace reliability.
Darvish has the experience in Japan and enters the prime of his career at age 25.
1. The Angels rivalry.
Never in my time as a serious Rangers fan (2003) has the AL West had its top two teams with so much talent. The Angels, with the addition of Albert Pujols and Wilson, along with the most underrated and dominant rotation in baseball, are going to be tough. The AL West was theirs for three straight years until we put a stop to their run in 2010. Anaheim doesn't want to waste any time getting that AL West title back, as evidenced by the all-in, win-now mentality with Pujols (10 years, $250 million).
These are going to be some incredible games and should be a close pennant race until the end. It will be interesting to see how MLB's rule change of adding one playoff team per league (starting this season in 2012) affects division races. I think it will only make it more exciting.
What makes the Angels rivalry my clear-cut No. 1 is the fact that I'll be returning to Arlington for the first Angels home series of the season on May 11-13. It should be one of the more exciting trips I've ever taken to the ballpark.
Is it baseball season yet?
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